Yavapai’s First Captain Becomes 22nd Roughrider Inducted Into NJCAA Hall of Fame
Reviewed by Zachary Shaver on
Jul 23.
Rocco DeNardis captained Yavapai College’s first two soccer teams in 1989 and 1990 to an overall record of 36-1-2 has been inducted into the National Junior ColRocco DeNardis captained Yavapai College’s first two soccer teams in 1989 and 1990 to an overall record of 36-1-2 has been inducted into the National Junior Col
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Rocco DeNardis captained Yavapai College’s first two soccer teams in 1989 and 1990 to an overall record of 36-1-2 has been inducted into the National Junior College Athletic Association Soccer Hall of Fame. He led the initial Yavapai College recruiting class to the 1990 NJCAA National Championship in only the 39th match in school history on November 18, 1990 in New Jersey. On that date in stunning fashion, the Roughriders defeated heavily favored Passaic County Community College of Patterson, New Jersey 2-1 in the second sudden death overtime period to capture Yavapai’s first of seven national titles. He was named to both the NJCAA Academic All-American and NSCAA All-American as a defensive midfielder for the Roughriders. His final two college seasons, he played at the NCAA Division One level with Fresno State University in California.

DeNardis becomes the sixth member off the 1990 Yavapai College soccer team named to the hall of fame joining goal scorers Edson Rico and Kobah Washington, defender Jose Corona, goalkeeper Andre Luciano and Head Coach Michael Pantalione. That same 1990 soccer team will be also inducted into the Yavapai College Athletic Hall of Fame on October 11th.

Head Coach Mike Pantalione viewed Rocco as “an extension of the coach on the field—Yavapai’s first captain when there were no assistant coaches on the staff during those early years. He was recruited, quite simply, to be the leader of the team. His unselfishness, humility, accountability, toughness, mental toughness, discipline and competitive attitude were traits that are difficult to find in captains these days.”

Yavapai College (535-46-24/25 year overall record) has the most soccer members (22) of any school inducted into the NJCAA Soccer Hall of Fame. The Yavapai College inductees: